Middle Eastern countries should seize the moment to institute major market-oriented reforms as they rebuild their economies and adjust to the political shifts transforming the region, World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick said in a Washington speech Wednesday.
Mr. Zoellick said the Middle East countries should look to remove impediments to entrepreneurism by fostering social responsibility, transparency and greater citizen involvement.
"You can't have successful development without good governance and the participation of their citizens," he said in what World Bank officials had billed as a major policy address.
"There are many roads to prosperity," he added, "but one must be taken. Inaction leads nowhere."
Speaking ahead of this month's annual World Bank meeting in Washington, Mr. Zoellick said economies in the region face a short-term challenge of creating new jobs while always keeping in mind the need for longer-term reforms.
"Quick wins are by their nature short term. But the Middle East faces a long-term employment problem," Mr. Zoellick said, warning that unemployment in the region is likely to remain high in the near term.
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Tim Devaney is a national reporter who covers business and international trade for The Washington Times. Previously, he worked for the Detroit News, Grand Rapids Press, Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News. Tim can be reached at tdevaney@washingtontimes.com.
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